Over 100 professional search professionals and law enforcement officers are currently looking for 3-year-old Casey Hathaway, a North Carolina boy who reportedly disappeared from his great-grandmother’s yard on Tuesday, while playing outside with other children.

According to a Thursday press conference, Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes confirmed that the little boy is still missing, but authorities will not give up until they find him. Officials are now using “well-trained search teams” due to the unpredictable weather and have turned away numerous volunteers for their own safety.

The sheriff also indicated that dive teams have been deployed and have been searching bodies of water surrounding the area and scent dogs are also being used. So far, authorities have not found any signs of the child in woods.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Hughes stated that while the FBI, state officials, soldiers from the U.S. Marines Corps, and countless volunteers are assisting in the search for the 3-year-old boy, they are treating his disappearance as a missing child who likely wandered off.

The sheriff stressed, however, that anyone with a tip should report anything “remotely suspicious.” Authorities are following up on all leads.

Casey reportedly didn’t return to his grandmother’s Ernul home off of 200 Toler Road on Tuesday afternoon, after playing outside with a group of children. Two of the children, who are a “little bit” older than Casey, according to the sheriff, returned to her home at around 1 p.m. and said the little boy decided he wanted to keep playing outside.

The grandmother told authorities that Casey may have went into “thick woods” behind her home. Hughes said that although Casey would stay with his grandmother from time to time, she was not considered his primary caregiver.

Casey is a white male who stands 3-feet-tall and weighs around 25 pounds. He has strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing dark-colored pants and a blue coat.

“Our concern is, we are running out of light and it is cold outside. There are so many pockets of water and sinkholes, some of my deputies have come in up to here,” Hughes said on Tuesday. “Hopefully, it will be a positive, end on a positive note.”

Anyone with any information should contact the Craven County Sheriff’s Office at 252-636-6073.

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[Feature Photo: Casey Hathaway/Handout]